Amusement device



1,872,542. Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

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Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

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H. W. PETERSON.

AMUSENIE-NT DEVICE.

APPLICATloN FILED SEPT. 29. 1919.

1,372,542. l Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

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Snow/M3 H. w. PETERSON.

ANIUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-29| I919.

Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

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H. w. PETERSON.

AMUSENIENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.29, 1919. Y

Patented Mar. 22, 1921-` n 0 may@ `Climat/maj H. W. PETERSON.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

I APPLICATIQN FI LED SEPT.29. 1919. l 1,372,542. Patented Mar. 22,1921.

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H. W. PETERSON.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE. APPucATxoN Fu En sPT. 29. 1919.

` Patented Mm. 22, 1921.

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l UNITEDA STATESY PATENT OFFICE- i HARRY W. PETERsomoF srRrNGrIELD, ILLINOIS.

" AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

i( 'c all w hom t may concern: y

Be it known that I,IIAnRr W. PnrnRsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Sanganion and body perfect freedom of action which togetherwith the `curvature and irregularities of the track set up a rolling motion of the car body during its travel over1 the tracks:

In carrying out my invention, I provide means for controlling themotion of the seat or car body consistent with the speed of the car, this means being in the form of a safety device to check any undue or too violent motion of the car when traveling at high speed, y

until the speed of the car is reduced.

In practice, I also make use of guide rails, disposed with relation to the rails of the track forholding the car upon the track and forcing it to follow the curvatures andirregularities of thelatter.

With these and otherobjects 'which will appear when thev following detail description is taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention resides fin" the construction, combination and arrange- In the drawings forming part `of this specification, like numerals of reference in dicate similar parts in the Aseveral views and wherein: f

Figure 1 is a plan view.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;`

F'g. 3 is a transverse sectional view ofthe trackway showing the car body infront elevation and several. of `its positions by dotted ing E `surrunds the platform. `As clearly i illustrated in several viewsof the drawings,

ted lines certain positions which the car body is capable `ofyoccupying.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan` i `view of oneendof the track.,`

` Specification of Letters Patent.

r terial. supports the floor board 13 of a platform tral section C.

track rise and fall as at 16. The

Fig. 6 is a view .in side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 5. i

Fig. 7 is an end elevation.`

F 1g. is a plan view of a portion supporting structure or frame of the car body. i

Fig. 9 is a side elevation thereof.`

Fig. 10 is a sectional view through the sockets for the reception of the spring.`

Fig. 11. is a View taken at right angles to Fig.. 1 0. 41g. 12 isa plan view of the reinforcing frame. for said springs. i

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the frame or sulp-` Fig. 18 is a detail view of the pivoted step` for the seat.

Fig. 19 is a sectional View takenthrough one leg thereof.

F'g. 20 is a detail `view of one of the springs. i

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary view of a modii'ied track construction."

Fig.- 22 is a similar view of another' modiiied form. i

Fig. 23 is a further modified form.

Fig. 24:` is a similar view of a still further modi'lied form. i r .i Referring to the drawings in detail., 10 indicates the continuous track, the rails of which are supported above the ground or surface `by thesupporting structure indicated generally at A., and including the spaced uprights 11, connected by diagonally disposed bracing elenients 12 which may be wood, angle iron or any other suitable ma- The supporting structure `A also which` isdivided by means of the tracks into an outer section B and an inner orcen- Steps D lead frointhe ground to the platform as shown. A railthe` rails 10.0f the track at certain points are provided with compound curves as at 15, while in other instances the rails of the of these irregularities in the tracks is to afy Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

Application filed September 29, 1919.' Serial No. 327,165.

of the y co ' Y ford the car body or seat which travels over the tracks changes in motion as illustrated in F ig. l. Rising from the platform atv opposite sides of the track are the arms l? of a supporting structure for the guide rails 18. These arms are braced by means ot the elements 19. Thefguide rails 18 are disposed immediately above the rails l ol? the track, and serve to hold the seat orcar bodyfupon the track. YThe 'guide rails 1S followY the course ofthe trackand consequently force the car body or seat Vto follow the curvatures and irregularities ot the track. Y Y- The car bodies or seats are connected to the branches 2() Otan endless cable 2l which is trained over the grooifed wheels 2Q at oppositeendsot the track, and which wheels are frotateclby asuitable source oit motive power.

this cable operating between the rails of the track and a few feet Abelow the latter.

YAs Yshown in `Figs. v6 and 7, the grooved wheels 22 are fixed upon the Vvertical shafts 23 which are ]ournaled in suitable bearings for rotation, each shaft 23 having fixed thereto L a bevel gear 24k arrangedbeneath the wheel 22. The driving 'shaft 25 is rot-ated by means ofv afmotor (not shown) and is equipped Ywith small bevel gears 26 the latlter meshing with .the beveled gears 25. thus lend maximumstrengthand rigidity.'V An' expansion spring 20 Aprovides a connection between the branches 2O of the cable and the car'body as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and el.

Thecar body 28 may be oi' any suitable construction having legs 29 connected with theV wheeled frame of the car through the Yinstrumen'tality 'of compression springs 30.

The Wheel supporting-frame ot' the car is V'clearly' illustratedin 'Figi S and includes Vfront .and rear axles 3l and 3,2 respectively. The front axle is forked as at 33t@ accommodate the steering knuckles 3e tor theI wheels 35. "These parts ai constructed and 'associatedin' anywell known manner. TheV vtrame also includes afpair Yof divergently.

disposed membersB projecting toward the center of the frametrom both the'fiont Vand rear axles. VThe vii'ront and rear axles are providedwith alined openings 37, and each. pair ijf-members SGYat their point of junc- 1 ture is formed to Vprovide a collar 38, the Ycol- Y larsfSS also Ybeing disposed in alinement with A l ea'chjotherandwith the' openings 37 of the A axles.. :VfL/'connecting' bolt :or rodV 39 isV 'passed" throughrsaidY openings andjcollars,

andesupported upon the ,connecting bolt or rod9 betweenthecllar 38 isa sleeve 4f() The cable 2lV thus actuated tov y move the car bodies orseats over the track from which depends an eyc il. The branches 2O ol the main cable 2l are connected with the eyes -l ot the respectivi` bars. The members 36 at their point ot' juncture with the axles ot the car delincs sockets l2 t'or the reception ot the lower ends ot the springs 30. The legs 29 ol the car body a rc also provided with sockets ol' the same construction for the reception ot the upper ends of the springs 30. These sockets are clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and ll. and embody a cup shaped portion sli-l which receive one or more of the lowerinost convolutions olf the spring, and a biiiurcatcd portion il, between the separated portions ot which one end ot the spring is extended. This end ot the spring indicated at l5 is looped about a pin #i6 passed through alined openings in thc separated portions 474-. ln this manner the springs are securely fastened to both the car body and the runnin;r rear therefor. The car body is provided with a toot rest i8 and a hand rail lfl, the latter being pivoted as at 50 to the forward cud ot the car body and adapted to be engaged by resilient clamps 51 carried by the arm rest ot the seat of the car for holdiircr tbe hand rail in active or operative position. The car body is also equipped with a step including spaced parallel members 52 connected b v means o'' the step proper The side members 5; are pivotally connected to one side ot thc body of the car so as to assume the position indicated in Fig. 3 while the car is in mo tion, the step being lowered to rest against the platform when its use is desired. The side members 52 are hollow and adapted to receive a rubber toot 54.

ln practice, the cars are moved over the rails lOin a manner above stated, the guide rails i8 maintaining the car upon the tracks and closing the bar to follow the curvatures and irregularities of the latter. Consequently the cars in some instances move inwardly and outwardly in quick sut-.cessivc order when passing over the compound curve 'l5'. while in other instances the car is ,c'ivcn rocking motion when passin over the raised and depressed portions 1G of the track. Since the car body is supported by thc compression springs 30, it is obvious that thc cars arc allowed perfect freedom in action and this coupled with the fact that thc cars pass over the curvatures and irregularities ot the track ay rolling motion is set up in the car body at fording considerable pleasure and amusement to those occupyiirgl the car. The car body is allowed to move in either direction laterally and is also supported yieldably tor vertical movement. Springs 30 are also ter minally secured to the car body and the running gear. in a manner to prevent casual separation. and this tact coupled with the fact that the guide rails 1S hold the car positioned upon the track assures .safety in the irame 56 illustrated in Fig. 12 which frame prevents the springs from bulging; It is to be understood that the freedom of action of the car 'body under the influenceoiIA the springs 30 is limited to a predetermined speed of the car, and when the cars travel in excess of this predetermined speed, undue or violent motion of the car is checked by means of a safety device to be presently described.

This safety device comprises an annulus disposed above the running gear of the car formed at diametrically opposite points with the collars 6l disposed in alinement with the collars 38 of the ruiming gear and also in alinement with the openings 37l oi. the axle for the reception of the connecting bolt or rod 39. In this manner, the annulus 60 is held associated with the running gear of the car. At points diametrically opposite the transverse center of the annulus 60, the latter is provided with the collars 62, While an additional collar 63 is provided at a point immediately above the collar 62 adjacent the rear axle. In each of the collars 62 and 63 respectively is arranged a bolt 64 having one end projecting with the annulus and pro vided with an opening for the reception of a cotter pin 65 by means of which the bolt is held positioned within the collars. The outer end ofthe respective bolts is enlarged and bifurcated as at 66, the separated portions defined by the bifurcation having alined openings 67 for the reception of the pin or stud 68. Secured to the underside of the seat ol the car, the yoke 69 terminates to provide eyes 70 which are connected with the eyes 71, oi a pair ot vertically disposed rods 72.` As shown in Figs. 15 and 16, the yoke 69 projects from, the rear of the car body while the rods 72 are arranged at the rear and in parallelism with the adjacent springs 30. Depending `from the underside oi? the seat of the car centrally thereof is an eye bolt 73, the eye oil which receives the eye 74 of an additional vertically disposed rod 75 which is similar to the rods 73. Both the rods 72 and 75 respectively are flattened for a portion of their length throughout one end` thereof as at 76, and these flattened terminals are provided with. `slots 77 which receive the pins or studs 68 connecting the separated portions of the bolts 64. lt is manifest that the car body is allowed perfect freedom to sti/ing or roll in any direction while the car is traveling at certain speed, but when the speed of the car is increased resulting in undueand violent motions of the body, the rods 7 2 and 7 5, respectively, swing to a position in the limit of their movements, whereby they engage the pins or studs`68 thus checking the motion of the car body under .such con- `ing the ditions. As the speed of the car is reduced, the car body willcontinue its change in motion as it passes over the curvatures in the track to the amusement and pleasure oit the occupants oi the car.

Thile I have shown and described. what l consider the preferredembcdiment of the invention, I desire to have it understood that ldo not limit myself inthis connection inasmuch as such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new is 1. An amusement device comprising a continuous tract having compound curves, a carrier movable over` said track, springs `supporting' the body of the carrier, and proif'iding lor a change or motion thereof during the movement of the same over the track, and a trame connecting said springs to prevent bulging of the latter.

2. An amusement device comprising a continuous track, having a compound curve, a carrier movable over said track, means ior supporting the body of the carrier for variation of movements, means for limiting the movements of said body in its different directions and said means including a plurality oit' pivoted members attached to said body, and a slot and pin connection between each member and the running gear of the carrier.

An amusement device comprising a track having compound curves, a wheeled carrier movable over said track, guide rails engaging said wheels for holding the latter upon the track, yieldable means supporting the body of the carrier for lateral rocking movement and movement in a vertical plane, means t'or checking undue and violent movements of the .body when traveling over the track at high speed, and means for prevent yieldable means from. bulgingas de scribed.

4. Ain. amusement device comprising a track having compound. curves, a wheeled carrier movable over said track, guide rails engaging said wheels, means supporting the body of the carrier for `treedom of action when moving over said track, a member secured to the body oit the carrier, rods piv j oted on said member and arranged in paral` lelie-m, and slot and pin connections between each of said rods and the running gear of the carrier to limit the movements of the body.

5. An amusement device comprising a continuous track having compound curves, a wheeled car movable over said track, guide rails engaging said rails, means for supporting the body oi? Ithe carrier and setting up a variation oiI motion thereof during the courseoi' travel of said carrier, an annulus secured to the running gear of said carrier,

'A continuous track und a compound curve, :L

carrier movable over said track, means for supporting said curr-1er, and a variatlon of movements, an nnnulus secured to the running gear of the carrier, bifurozrted mem 10 bers Carried by the annulus, pivoted rods depending from said carrier :rnd slidnble through the bifurcuted members, and slot and pin connections between the rods :ind

said bifureated member for limiting the 15 movements of the Carrie' :1s described.

ln testlmonx7 whereof I uiiix my signature.

HARRY 7. PETERSON. 

